To The Freshman College Student-Athlete,

First off, congratulations. The goal you have worked toward and dreamed of has been accomplished: you are a college student-athlete. When you realize, what this means it's surreal. It is honestly the best feeling being able to play the sport you love for a school you love all while working towards a career you’re going to love. It is one of the most rewarding experiences. But before this journey begins, there are some things you need to hear.

The most important part of being a student-athlete is being a student. Some people never grasp this when they begin college, which is why some people end up just being a student due to failing grades. You have to understand some things. You must keep a certain GPA. You must study. I don’t care if you never have, learn how to. If your coach or college requires study hall hours, take advantage of it. Seriously, you can get so much more done during these hours. This will also free up some time for you social life. Whatever you do, do not let your social life ruin your education. Most of all, do not use the title of being an athlete as an excuse to fail classes and slack. Don't feed the stereotype of being a lazy, unmotivated athlete in the classroom. Work hard. Don't skip class. Make good grades. Be an Academic All-American. If you can balance school and your sport at the same time and excel in both, it is something you will always be proud of.

The life of a college athlete isn’t easy. In fact, it’s really hard and almost seems impossible sometimes. Now you’re probably thinking "I played 3 sports in high school and was in 5 clubs. Guess what? So were most of us who can back up this statement: the college student-athlete life is ten times harder than the high school student-athlete life. The practices are longer. The workouts are harder (and normally earlier in the morning). The classes are harder. Everything is harder. You’ll believe me when you’re on your third class of the day and are so sore from 6 am workouts that you have to grab the back of the desk to sit down, all the while wondering what practice is going to be like. But the best part is, it’s so much more rewarding. You become an athlete you never thought you would be. You will be able to do things you never were able to do before. Your body will be exhausted, but it’s worth every second of hard work you will put in. Nothing great ever comes easy.

When I was about to begin my freshman year, my dad gave me some advice that has stuck with me the entire time I have been playing in college. He told me to view my scholarship as a paycheck and that my sport is my job. If you have a job, you’re not going to put in half an effort or show up half of the time and expect a full paycheck. Same with your sport. You cannot put in half the work and expect to get the same playing time as someone who works hard every time they get a chance to improve. Your playing time and your success depend on you. It’s a job, but it should be a job you love. Always work hard. Always do your best. You’ll thank yourself when the season comes.

In the next four years, you are about to gain a new family. It will be a huge family. You may have been close with your teammates in high school, but absolutely nothing beats the bond formed with your teammates while on a college athletics team. You spend almost every single day together. You suffer together. You grow together. You learn together. You all see each other at your best and your worst. And it makes for an amazing experience. Make the most of the friendships you make at college. They will be your friends for life.

No matter what, have fun. There is no doubt you began your sport because it was fun. You fell in love with it and that is what has brought you this far. If you're not careful, you'll let everything overwhelm you and begin to hate being a college athlete. Keep a good attitude through everything. This makes a huge difference. Most of all, don’t forget your love for your sport.

It doesn’t matter if you are going to be attending a junior college, NAIA, D1, or whatever division, you have worked hard for this and it’s a big deal. Make the most of the next four years. Make the best memories and the most you can. When you’re a senior like me, you don’t want to have regrets and the only way to do that is to make the best of it beginning the very first day of your freshman year. Live for the long practices, the bus rides the hard work, and the memories. Your student-athlete dreams are coming true, embrace every single second.